Weekend warmup / waiting game

Points to ponder as we head into our first weekend without a faint whiff of National Football League action:

WAITING GAME: Brewers fans have been anxiously awaiting word on the fate of leftfielder Ryan Braun, whose case is in the hands of a three-person arbitration panel headed by Shyam Das.

I figured we’d have a decision this week. Now, I’m not so sure.

Apparently, the 25-day window for deliberation is more of a suggestion than an air-tight rule. With the Brewers’ spring training roster set, there really doesn’t seem to be that much urgency for Das to issue a decision until camp opens in about 10 days.

In other words, don’t hold your breath.

Plenty of folks have asked if the long deliberation is a good sign for Braun. If you believe that, I think you’ve been watching too much TV. I know they wrap cases up in an hour on “Law and Order,” and “48 Hours,” but things like this take considerably longer in the “real world.”

How is it going to end?

Nobody knows, but I stand by what I’ve thought from the beginning, which is that Braun is going to be handed a “split decision.” In some way, the report will reveal that he wasn’t trying to gain an advantage or “cheat” the game, but he’ll still end up serving a 50-game suspension for tripping the test in the first place.

STAR GAZING: Brandon Jennings did not make the Eastern Conference All-Star team. After posting this hopeful Tweet on Wednesday:

Watever (sic) happens tomorrow I'm just blessed to be in the conversation as all star..... Never thought I would ever be in the conversation!

If you look at it objectively, those seven guys all have a strong case for inclusion ahead of Jennings.

One rumor floating around town is that Jennings found out the disappointing news before the game against the Suns, when he turned in a lackluster effort that coach Scott Skiles characterized as “disconnected.” Let’s hope that isn’t true.

PATRIOT GAMES: If you feel like ripping Rob (or Ron, as Aaron Rodgers called him) Gronkowski for dancing shirtless after the Super Bowl, take your shirt off and read Bill Johnson’s blog on the subject. I think the Prime Minister nails this one. So does my pal, Bill Plaschke of the Los Angeles Times, who expresses what I've felt for years: Fans care more about games than the players.

INFLATION: When the Packers announced what they were raising ticket prices virtually across the board, I had a couple thoughts:

Didn’t they sell enough stock?

Is the South End renovation over budget already?

And, more seriously, Packers’ tickets -- in the grand scheme -- are among the best bargains in sport. If you think about the intense demand, they could get away with charging New York prices in tiny Green Bay.

It’s not great. But, it could be worse.

VELVET ROPE: No matter what I say or how I come off on the radio every morning, I know that I’m not cool. There may have been about a 15-minute window in the late 1990s when I thought I was cool but it didn’t last long.

Maybe it’s because I’ve never been invited to a party where the invitation promised “Ballers, Bottles and Models.”

EMPTY-HANDED: Saturday is “National Marquette Day.” I’m going to watch the Golden Eagles play Cincinnati and will host a post-game show with the incomparable Steve Haywood. But, I didn’t get Marquette a gift.

TOM TERRIFIC: Packers tight end Tom Crabtree joins Jason Wilde and Zach Heilprin on “Green and Gold Today” at 9:30 a.m. Friday. I don’t know him, but I like the way he mixes with fans on Twitter. He’s one of the guys who seems to get it.

HAPPY TRAILS: I hope you enjoy your weekend. We'll be starting ours on "The D-List" with pizza from Rocky Rococco for "Free Food Friday" and a visit from some Energee! dancers. Life is good.